VERDICT: Jury reaches decision in Maryborough trial

VERDICT: On day three of a trial in Maryborough District Court, the jury has reached a decision on a woman who hid from the law for almost 15 years.

Anderleigh woman Maree French has been found guilty of entering a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence and guilty of assault.

She was given two-and-a-half years for each charge and will serve ten months in prison.

DAY THREE: MARYBOROUGH District Court has heard a woman accused of attacking a man at his home in the late 1990s hid from the law for almost 15 years.

Anderleigh woman Maree French faces trial on charges of entering a dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence and assault occasioning bodily harm, for the alleged bashing and threatening of Allan Dierens.

It was revealed in court that in December 1999, a warrant was issued for Ms French's arrest after she failed to appear in court to face the charges. She was picked up by police in 2013, and was carrying a licence with a different name.

Crown Prosecutor Gavin Webber argued the reason why Ms French had breached her bail condition for so long, was because she knew she was guilty and was worried about going to prison.

He quoted her statement to the court.

"[Ms French said] 'I just wanted a bit more time, a bit more time with my children'," Mr Webber said.

"It is clear she knew about the warrant and deliberately avoided court."

Defence barrister Paul Rutledge said his client had made some bad decisions in relation to the alleged attack and avoiding court.

"Maree French accepts it was stupid to go there that night, she knows it was stupid," Mr Rutledge said.

"Another stupid decision she made was not going to court; that was wrong, she should have. The reason why was very clear; she was worried about her children."

Mr Rutledge said his client had only wanted to talk to Mr Dierens on the night of the incident, and had brought a disabled rifle along to intimidate him.

"She saw her only option was to confront him, she didn't want to attack him," he said.

"Against a background of intermittent harassment and a history of incidents [involving Mr Dierens]."

Mr Webber said a person would not take a gun to someone's house unless they wanted to cause trouble.